Meet Beth Smith of A-list Interviews in Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Smith.

Beth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I owned a restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. I hired a guy to help me manage the place. He let in two underage football players who were accused of a felony. This was one of the incidents in the Colorado Football Recruiting Scandal, and it made national news. The next day, the Boulder Police walked in. They told me that I was going to lose my license. I asked, “Is there anything that I can do to fix that?” The Officer leaned across the table, pointed his finger at me and said: “you have to learn how to hire better.” I said okay.

I called every business owner/leader/C-level executive that I knew, and I said, “I am under direct orders from the Boulder Police Department to learn how to hire better. Can you help me?” Not a single person said yes. Every person said something along the lines of “Good luck with that.” “When you figure it out come back and teach me.” “I’m selling my business after 30 years because I have never been able to hire right.” My last year in the restaurant business I had 0% turnover. Since then, I have interviewed almost 20,000 people. I have a 91% retention rate for employees after a year.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not a single smooth thing about my path. I started A-list right before the Recession. I had an initial boom, then very little business. Learning how to sell a business that no one had ever heard of was super challenging! Then, when to hire a full-time employee. How to attract clients to a process that no one knew of. Big sigh!

Please tell us about A-list Interviews.
I teach interviewing skills to business leaders so that they are hiring better employees. I have written a book called “Why Can’t I Hire Good People?” and my second book, “Hire Power: Daily Tips and Insights for the Harried Hiring Manger,” comes out this year. I have never met a consultant who specializes in what happens between a potential candidate and their potential employer.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I created an A-list Interviews Advisory Board, and we met for 3-4 hours once a quarter to discuss my business. 

Roger Crawford, Alan Wyngarden, Steve Caldera, Rick Taylor

All of my clients have helped me in some way. My girlfriends kept me sane. My marketing people. My staff, contractors, and of course, my daughter, Katy, who continues to provide me with inspiration and great blog material!

Contact Info:

• Address: 1550 Larimer Street #777
  Boulder, CO 80303
• Website: www.a-listinterviews.com
• Phone: 3038180555
• Email: beth@a-listinterviews.com
• Facebook: @Alistinterviews
• Other: www.linkedin.com/in/bethsmithalistinterviews

Image Credit:
Yvonne Min

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